Cleveland State Holds Off Butler In Double-Header

Apr 04, 2009

Indianapolis, Ind. - After falling behind early
to visiting Cleveland State in both games of a double-header, the
Bulldogs rallied back to close to within one run each time but
would be unable to comeback for the wins, as Butler dropped a pair
of games to the Vikings, 3-1 and 6-3, at the Butler Softball Field
on Saturday (April 4) afternoon.

Cleveland State took a 2-0 lead in the third inning of the
opening contest on a pair of RBI hits, but the Bulldogs would
bounce back in their half of the frame thanks to some two-out
lightning.

After CSU induced two groundouts to open the inning, Erin
Jackson kept things going by roping a double to the gap in left
center. Following a walk by Annie
Dolan, Alex
Boros banged a single to center that brought Jackson around for
the Bulldogs' first run of the contest.

The Vikings earned a run back in the top of the seventh and
carried a two-run lead into the bottom of the frame.

Butler went right to work, as Paige
Ashton hit a hard shot to third that the CSU third-baseman
mishandled before Lindsay
Schluge rolled a one-out single through the left side to put
the tying runs on base.

The rally would end there, however, as CSU pitcher Amanda
Macenko worked a strikeout and ground-out to end the threat.

Breanna
Fisher started and worked an admirable 6.2 innings, allowing
just two earned runs while striking out seven.

CSU once again staked itself to an early lead in the second
game, as the Vikings plated a run in the second on an RBI single
before tallying two runs on three two-out hits in the third inning
to go in front 3-0.

Butler rebounded in their half of the frame, as Lauren
McNulty led off with a double to right, moved to third on a
wild pitch and came home to score on another errant toss.

Jackson then reached base after being struck by a pitch before
Ashton hit a single to right, but the Vikings managed to gun down
Jackson trying to reach third while allowing Ashton to move into
scoring position at second.

Alex
Boros picked up a big two-out hit, however, lining a single
back up the middle to bring Ashton home and cut the deficit to 3-2.

The Vikings added to their lead with a run in the sixth, but
Butler again responded in its half of the inning with a run of
their own after Bridget
Paine belted a towering home run deep over the fence in
straightaway left field.

CSU made a Bulldog comeback much more difficult in the top of
the seventh, however, as the Vikings plated two runs on three hits
to take a 6-3 lead before setting down three-straight in the bottom
of the inning.

Paine finished with three hits on the day, including her third
home run of the season. Jackson and Boros, meanwhile, each picked
up a pair of hits.

Butler returns to action on Sunday (April 5) when it closes out
the three-game series against Cleveland State beginning at 12:00
noon.